A new study is the first to show that CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) is effective in patients with Tourette’s syndrome and tic disorders, regardless of their medication status or symptom severity. 76 adult participants, all of whom had been diagnosed with the aforementioned conditions, were divided into two groups; those who were prescribed medication and those who were not. All of the participants underwent four months of individualized, manual-based CBT. Before and after receiving CBT, measures were taken to assess depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and planning style. Also, the Tourette Syndrome Global Scale was employed to assess various factors, including severity and treatment outcome.

The results demonstrated that both groups—medicated and unmedicated—greatly improved from the CBT. The unmedicated group improved in terms of anxiety, while both groups’ depressive symptoms decreased.